Asia

ASIA - Northern Trust Global Investments is embarking on a push to secure Asia as a key region for securities lending business growth.

INDIA - Decks have been cleared for the long-awaited pension reforms with the IndianUnion Cabinet giving approval to a proposal to bring in legislation for establishing a separate regulator for the sector.

JAPAN - Japanese smaller companies remain a ‘particularly attractive' investment despite recent market gyrations, Scottish Widows Investment Partnership claims.

JAPAN - The Japanese economy is starting to enjoy its first self-sustained recovery since the bubble burst in 1989, a leading fund manager claims.

INDIA - The Congress Party shock victory in India's general election will create market volatility for at least the remainder of the year, asset managers warn.

JAPAN - Japanese equities will provide strong returns for pension schemes, leading fund managers claim.

TAIWAN - Taiwan's US$7.2bn Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) is preparing to tender for an investment consultant to advise on further international diversification of the fund.

JAPAN - Japanese pension fund investment in hedge funds is set to mushroom on the back of the Government Pension Investment Fund's (GPIF) decision to plough hundreds of billions of yen into the asset class.

JAPAN - Japanese investors are acquiring a taste for sophisticated fixed income products such as credit derivatives and asset- and mortgage-backed securities.

ASIA - Emerging Pacific markets such as Korea remain "relatively inexpensive" and are likely to benefit from a continued improvement in the US economy.